[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Numerous provisions affecting immigration have made it in to Congress' 1.3 trillion spending bill, but the most glaring omission is the lack of any new laws protecting recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.  Dreamers, immigrants who entered the country illegally when they were children, have been passed around as a political football in recent months.  The Trump administration ended the DACA program, which allowed many dreamers to live and work in the country legally, last September.  Recent court cases have kept the program alive. While the bill has not yet been passed, and anything is possible, here are some immigration proposals that are currently in the bill.
  • Increased funding for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), allowing for an additional 328 CBP officers
  • Requirement for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reduce the number of beds in detention centers
  • $1.6 billion for border wall funding, with limitations on how that money can be spent
  • An increase of $1.34 billion for the Census Bureau
What's not in the bill?
  • Protections for DACA recipients
  • $25 billion for border wall funding
  • Funding to increase the number of ICE detention beds
  • Penalties against so-called "sanctuary cities"
The deadline for the spending bill to be passed before a government shutdown is this Friday.  The House of Representatives has passed the bill which now moves to the Senate. The Law Offices of Scott Warmuth carefully monitors all legislation pertaining to immigration.  Staying up to date on possible changes to immigration law can help us better serve our clients.  If you or a loved one needs help from an immigration attorney, contact us today at 888-517-9888 to receive a free immigration consultation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]